Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil today said that one of the biggest disappointments people feel about the European Union is that it has not spoken up enough about corruption. He said that “for this side of the House (the opposition/Nationalist Party side) it is not acceptable for a sitting minister to have a secret company in Panama. For this side, it is not ok for the Prime Minister’s chief of staff to have a secret company in Panama."

Dr Busuttil’s comments were made this evening in Parliament during a special plenary session in the presence of European Parliament President Martin Schulz. Mr Schulz is in Malta to conduct a number of bilateral meetings ahead of the 2017 Maltese EU Council Presidency.

The opposition leader criticised the EU for not taking action against corruption throughout all EU member states, especially in light of the Panama Papers scandal.

He said that other disappointments include the feeling that EU citizens do not know what the 28-member state bloc stands for, and that the EU intervenes where people feel it should keep out, but then interfere where people feel it should keep quiet.

In his address, Mr Schulz declared that the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader’s experience within the EP means that they understand how important the institution is for the EU Council Presidency.

He said that he is confident in Malta’s ability, despite it being a small state, to tackle key issues plaguing the EU. He noted how Malta’s experience with irregular immigration is of paramount importance as the EU continues to grapple with wave after wave of irregular migrants.

“Despite the difficulty to manage the EP, the parliament is a place of democracy. The will of the people is expressed in parliament, therefore our obligation as the EP representing European citizens, the duty of your parliament (the Maltese parliament) representing your country while it leads the EU, lends itself to full cooperation between the two sides.

“Throughout my term in the EP I was never invited to a plenary session at the beginning of a member state’s presidency, this is a symbol that you (Malta) are fully committed to the task.”

Prime Minister Muscat said he believes that while Malta is a “peculiar” country, it is one that delivers. He highlighted the positive achievements this current legislature has managed such as historically low unemployment – especially for youth unemployment. Malta has managed to achieve this against a backdrop of a stagnating European economy and persistently high unemployment across most member states.

He spoke of his position on the situation in Africa, which has led to thousands making the perilous journey to the EU. He said that in his belief, there should be a Marshall Plan for Africa, in a similar fashion as to the Marshall Plan with Turkey.

“Despite Turkey’s serious problems, the Marshall plan has allowed it to save face,” he said.

He also called for the stemming of protectionist ideas, calling for an “open” Europe. Dr Muscat said this from an economic and a social standpoint. He called for progress in the area of migration.

Deputy Prime Minister Louis Grech spoke of six areas where he believes the Maltese presidency can make a “genuine difference”: migration, the single market, security, social inclusion, the neighbourhood policy and the maritime sector.

Deputy Nationalist Party (PN) leader Beppe Fenech Adami stressed that in view of Malta’s longstanding challenges with irregular migration, it feels like a “victory” to see the issue placed so high on the European agenda throughout Malta’s presidency.

A number MPs from both sides of the House also addressed the special plenary session.

Present for the occasion were most of Malta's 71 MPs, inclusive of no-portfolio Minister Konrad Mizzi who was embroiled in the Panama Papers scandal.